Hot chocolate is a classic comfort for cold weather and the holiday season. A steaming mug of rich, chocolatey goodness can instantly bring back childhood memories. After hours spent playing in the snow, you’d come inside with rosy cheeks and a frosty nose, ready for a warm cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. If you were lucky, there might even be a gingersnap or two. For many, sipping hot chocolate on a snowy evening evokes nostalgic, cozy moments.
I remember sledding on our hometown hill for hours and then settling by the fire with a mug overflowing with mini marshmallows, trying to scoop out a few with every sip. I’d like to say that’s a distant memory, but I still find myself fishing for marshmallows—just without the sledding.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been focusing on homemade edible gifts that far outshine store-bought options. This Hot Cocoa Mix In A Jar is a perfect example. While the mix is a lovely gift on its own, I couldn’t resist pairing it with a batch of Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows for family and friends.
Making a rich, decadent cocoa mix from scratch is almost as simple as opening a packet—and tastes much better. With basic ingredients like Dutch-process cocoa, confectioners’ sugar, and powdered milk, the mix comes together quickly and stores well.
Packaged in a pretty glass jar and finished with a handmade tag and festive red-and-white baker’s twine, it will look like you spent hours creating a thoughtful gift. Adding homemade marshmallows makes the package even more special—no one needs to know you prepared gifts for several people in just a few hours.
Tag Info
– The jar pictured is a Weck 3/4 liter mold jar.
If you use a cutting machine and want to recreate the tags and shapes shown:
- Square tag (Rudolph reindeer card) cut on light blue cardstock, folded in half at 4.0 inches wide.
- Mittens (Cocoa, Mittens, and Hat) cut on red cardstock at 1.0 inch width.
- Font used: Last Words.
- Baker’s twine was purchased from Amazon.
Hot Cocoa Mix
Yield: 5 1/2 cups dry mix
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Directions:
To Make The Mix
1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk until evenly incorporated.
2. Pour the hot cocoa mix into an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
To Make Hot Cocoa
Fill a mug halfway with the hot cocoa mix and add hot water. Stir to combine. For a creamier cup, use warm milk instead of water. Store leftover mix in an airtight container.
Notes:
Alton Brown suggests adding a pinch of cayenne pepper for a subtle kick; this recipe omits it. Adjust to taste if you prefer a spicy hint.
Source: My Baking Addiction, slightly adapted from Alton Brown
All images and text © My Baking Addiction
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